The Star-News

Murderer might get half a century in prison

Sat, Dec 24 2011 12:00 PM Posted By: Neal Putnam

William Thomas Mace, 27, of Bonita, is awaiting a long prison sentence on Jan. 20, 2012, after being convicted of first-degree murder in the drive-by shooting that killed 17-year-old Jose Anthony Roman, Jr. in 2006.A Chula Vista Superior Court jury deliberated five hours last month before also convicting him of two counts of attempted murder of two other teenagers who were in the same car as Roman. Four shots were fired, but only Roman was hit.Mace faces 50 years to life in prison, said Deputy District Attorney Janice De Leon on Nov. 4. Judge Stephanie Sontag is expected to impose 25 years for the murder, and add 25 years consecutively for the use of a gun in a homicide.The shooting took place on Oct. 12, 2006, on state Route 54 near the Fourth Avenue exit in Chula Vista. Passengers with Roman testified the shots were fired following hand gestures by people in both cars.A Chula Vista Police officer testified that Mace admitted to him he was the gunman in a Nov. 5, 2009, interview after Mace was arrested following a long investigation.Mace is housed at the South Bay Detention Facility without bail